Aldi Will Open 800 Stores in the Coming Years—Here's What to Know

By 2028, your community might just have its first Aldi location.

It’s no secret that many of us at EatingWell are devoted Aldi shoppers—it’s how we know which of the store’s salad kits is best and what’s on our usual Aldi shopping list. There’s lots to love about making Aldi your grocery shopping destination, and the price point is especially appealing. The grocer is known for its great deals on essentials, plus fun slates of seasonal deals. We also love the healthy options Aldi stocks, from simple snacks to frozen entrees that will become a staple in your kitchen.

Related: 7 Healthy Finds Coming to Aldi This March

Of course, not everyone may have an Aldi in their area—but that might be changing soon for some lucky shoppers. Aldi just announced a plan to open 800 new Aldi stores in the next four years, giving the retailer nearly 3,200 stores nationwide by 2028.

Aldi hasn’t released specific locations about where exactly it’ll open the 800 stores, but the company is dropping hints. We know that Aldi will expand into new cities, including Las Vegas, while adding locations in areas where the retailer is already established. (Keep an eye on Aldi’s grand openings tracker to see if your town pops up sometime soon.)

Aldi also says that the company plans to expand their presence in Southern California and Phoenix, plus add more stores in the northeastern and midwestern parts of the United States. New stores—and some stores undergoing remodeling—will be outfitted with sustainable features like rooftop solar systems and environmentally friendly refrigeration systems.

Related: 10 Underrated Groceries to Buy at Aldi, According to a Food Writer

As for folks down South, they can expect to see some big changes in their local grocery stores. Aldi has officially acquired Southeastern Grocers, which operates Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. While some of those stores will retain their old branding and style, others will be converted into Aldi stores.

“With the acquisition of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets, ALDI will serve even more communities in the Southeast, bringing us closer to our customers in a region where we’ve already experienced significant demand for affordable, quality groceries,” Aldi’s CEO, Jason Hart, said in a media release.

The Harveys and Winn-Dixie locations rebranding as Aldis will convert in phases—the first group will start the process later this year and reopen as Aldi stores in 2025. So while you may miss your local Winn-Dixie location for a handful of months, you can rest assured that it will be coming back bigger and better than ever.

If you’re an Aldi rookie with a store coming your way soon, we’ve got some tips for you. Be sure to avoid these “polite” things that are actually rude, and grab some of the classic Aldi essentials, like the items on their annual fan-voted favorites list. As long as you find what’s on your list and hunt down the deals you want, you can’t go wrong.

Read the original article on Eating Well.